maoeachen



` Mar. 2o, 1923. 1,448,756

H. MaCEACHEN COAL ELEVATING AND CONVEYNG APPARATUS Filed Dec. i8, 1920 7 sheets-sheet l www@ R. MaCEACI-IEN Mar. 2o, 1923.

COAL ELEVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS '7 shets-sheet 2 Mar. 20, 1923.

R. MaCEACHEN COAL ELEVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 181920 '7 sheets-sheet 5 m j f .,Q .M m muv 0 z f fg@ Y wm WQNIMN 6M V ,www .www

Mar. 20, 1923.

R. MQCEACHEN COAL ELEVATING AN D CONVEYING APPARATUS Fil'ed Deo. 18, 1920 '7 sheetssheet 4 277 ORNE YS? Mar. 20, 1923.

R. MaCEACE-IEN COAL LEVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS F3 led Dec. 18, 1920 '7 sheets-sheet 5 QQ r.

Mar. 20, 1923.

- 1,4%755 R. MEICEACHEN COAL ELEVATING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1920 7 sheets-sheety 6 ATT RNE?.

Mx 20i 1923'.

R. MaCE-ACHN COAL` ELEVATING AND CONVYING APPARATUS Filed Dep. 1'8, 1920 f/ sheets-sheet 7 vpag.5

NNN

NNN NL of' may be provided. I provide a suitable bevel gear 13 on the shaft 8, this gear meshing with gear 14 on horizontal shaft 15, which in turn carries a small pinion 1213 meshing with the gear 124 which also carries the bevel gear 16, which latter gear meshes with a bevel gear 17 mounted on the upper end of shaft 18. I provide a suitable pinion 20 meshing with a suitable intermediate gear 125 which in turn meshes with the large gear 21 on the telescopic vertical shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 3. A corresponding shaft 23 carries a large gear 22 meshing with and Adriven by the large gear 21. The two shafts 23', both of which pivot at their lower ends on platform 45, each carry a sprocket 27 positioned within the respective looped ends 26 of elevator chain housings 25, which ride on the inclined bottom plate 24 of the elevator'. Shafts 23 carrying the upper end of the elevater are arranged to he raised and lowered so that the elevator may be brought to a lowered position to facilitate transportation of the apparatus through the mine. Each of the shafts 23 ,is a telescopic shaft and the telescopic sections of same arev square in cross section. Vertical shaft 18 is a telescopic shaft and shaft 127 which carries the pinions 126 also is telescopic.

Referring to Fig. 1, I may provide a suitable light four-wheeled truck 139 to be placed under the lower end of the elevator 3 to facilitate transportation of the elevator from one place to another. Truck 139 will be connected to the elevator by a Suitable vertical pin 140, the truck being dragged freely with the whole machine.

Referring to Fig. 3, I provide lower sprockets 28 for .carrying the chain shields 32 at the foot of the elevator apparatus. At the lower end of the elevator bottom plate 24, I provide a suit-able rigidly mounted shovel member 102.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, relating to de` tails of the construction ofthe elevator mechanism, I provide paddles 34, mounted at suitable intervals on extensions 33 by lugs 31 on the bolts 40 of endless sprocket chains 30. Chains 30 are operated within chain housings 25, each of which is provided with a vertical partition 35. For this I may also use chains as described in Fig. 1 2 for con-V veyor. Mounted midway of partition 35, I provide suitable sprockets 36 bearing on the endless chains 30. i

Referring to Fig. 7, the endless chains consist of the center links 38 and the outer links 39, flexibly` connected by the bolts 40, under the heads of which are positioned springs 41, as shown in Fig. 7, which afford a degree of vertical flexibility to the elevator chain, the holes in links being slightly oblong.

Referring to Fig. 4, which illustrates means for swinging the lower end of the elevator radially, and also means for raising and lowering the same to shift it `from one operative position to another, and also to lower the upper end to facilitate transportation through the mine passage. I provide a shaft 18, which functions as the pivot pointy of platform 45, which carries the elevator controlling mechanism. Shaft 18. as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, carries a beveled gear 42, which meshes with the beveled gear t3 on shaft 44, mounted on platform 45 and carry ing a pinion 47 at its end suitably mounted on the arcuate rack Rack 48. as illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4, is made in detachable sections so that the outer sections may be removable. to facilitate transportation ot' the machine through mine passages. l ma;v provide any suitable means for reversing thc direction of the swinging movement of platform 45, on oi relative to rack 48. It is within the contemplation of my invention to provide suitable rollers 52 on they under` side of the outer end of platform 45. to .support the weight thereon on the flat extended portion of rack element 48, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The platform ma)Y he otherwise suitably supported, if preferred. as b v a plurality of shafts attached to platform 45 and gears riding on rack 48. l provide suitable means for controlling the swinging movement of platform 45 and the elevator 3 which it carries, such as two-way clutch 46. which is adapted to reyerse the direction of rotation of gear 47 on rack 48; or any other suitable and equivalent means for accomplishing the same end may be utilized.

For the purpose of supporting and raising and lowering the upper end of the elevator. .I provide a plurality of threaded shafts having a suitable nivoted connection with the under side ol" the ele 1ator and at their lower ends carrying gears 53 and 58. which are tuieratively connected by an intermediete gear 51, so as to rotate in the simo direction. The gear 58 is provided with vertical teeth 5f?, which mesh with the gear 5l. as well as with beveled teeth. which mesh with the. beveled pinion 57 carried b v shaft 55. which shaft also carries; the gear 54, meshing with gear 49 on shaft 44, by which the aforesaid mechanism actuated. I provide a suitable clutch 5G on shaft 55 for shiftiner the device into and out of operation. Gear o8 is provided with a suitable friction bearing, such as the ball thrust 60, illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. il.. I provide means for raising and lowering the endless conveyor 4. xvii-ich extends over the tops of cars. consisting of a drum (il. mounted on shaft 44 and connected by detachable cable 62 with a drum 63 on the horizontal shaft 64, which is suspended by suitable support 65. Sha 'ts Gi above the conveyor on either side carriv a plurality of drums 6G, each carrying cable 0i',

ends oi' the outer sections-ot rack /i/ are each provided with a link 132 ailapteiil to be inserted through the depending loop ll so that the grooves 134 will engage the corresponding lugs 135 on the under side of member 1.` Intermediate and outer sections of rack 48 are releasably connected to each other by the tongue 128 which is adapted to slip through loop 129 and have its groove portion 131 engage the lug 130 on the under side of rack 48, as shown in Fig.

` The operation of the apparatus is follows:

The power car is driven to a position which forces the shovel member beneath ther loose coal. which is swept into and up the elevator continuously by the paddles 34 carried by the endless chains 30, which are arranged as shown in Fig. 3 and travel in a parallel direction, the paddles being swung toward each other at the lower end ot the elevator and away from each other at the upper end of the elevator to convey the coal upward` As the elevating ot the coal proceeds, the lower end of the elevator is swung radially as necessary to reach the coal to the extent permitted by rack 48, to increase the range of operation of the apparatus while the power car is in one position. The elevator may be swung radially, or elevated, or lowered; and drum 61 for raising the conveying mechanism may be 0perated without operating the whole machine under the control of a suitable clutch. The upper end of the elevating apparatus, when positioned for operation, is as shown in Fig.

2, above the horizontal conveyor into which it discharges the coal from its upper end. For purposes of transportation through the lower passages ot the mine, the upper end of the elevator may be lowered by means of the threaded shafts 59 and the rest of the elevator lifting apparatus 6, heretofore described in detail. The coal discharged from elevator 3 onto the horizontal conveyor 4 is carried along over the cars on which this horizontal conveyor is supported while the apparatus is in operation. The horizontal conveyor is driven from shaft 72, by means of the series of gears and gear wheels illustrated in Fig. 12.

The coal is continuously dumped into the cars by the endless conveyor, the coal dropping throug the openings left when plates have been withdrawn or moved out laterally to the extent permitted` As soon as one car is filled the plates are operated to closed position by turning the screw-threaded shafts 79 by means of handle 104, thus simultaneously closing the opposite plates 75, as will be 'apparent by reference to Figs. 16 and 17.v Plates over the forward end portions of the cars are first opened to receive the coal as it is swept along by the conveyor and then the plates are successively The removable plates 75,V which support the coal carried in the horizontal conveyor 4, are of sufficient size to overlap, both longitudinally and at their ends, as shown in the drawings, thus making it ossible to withdraw them in the. manner lllustratcd. 'f`

The arrangement of overlapping ends adds to the lateral iiexibility of the horizontal conveyor. The horizontal conveyors also have the chains arranged in pairs and spaced substantially similar to the conveyor chains of the elevating mechanisni, whereby the oppo sitely arranged paddles 93 will carry the coal along from the elevator to the various coal cars. The horizontal conveyors travel in a like direction and are simultaneously operated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 and as above described. A motor '7, within the power gear, furnishes power to operate all the mechanism described. and also is arranged to drive the car itself.

I may utilize the apparatus for the handling of any loose material other than coal, such as gravel, snow, etc., and I may employ suitable mechanical equivalents for the various parts of the apparatus where same may be suitable, without essentially modifying the novel combination and arrangement of the parts above described, as heretofore claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In an elevator, the combination of a pair of endless chains, each carrying a series of spaced paddles, said paddles being oppositely disposed to sweep material along the elevator, and bottom plates for the elevator, resilient means for giving a limited degree of vertical flexibility to the endless chains. housing means for the endless chains` and means for synchronously driving said cndless chains.

2. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 1, a shaft member affixed to the lower and of the elevator and a dis charge chute aixed to the upper end of the elevator whereby to more eiciently gather in and discharge the material handled by the elevator.

3. In a coal conveying apparatus, a flexible conveyor, said conveyor comprising a series of plates, said plates having their ends overlapping the ends of longitudinally alined sets of plates and having contiguous edges overlapping laterally. means` for independently supporting each set of plates, whereby to-give the conveyor a considerable degree of iexibility to permit a sinuous movement or adjustment of same.

4. In a horizontal conveyor, the combination of a pair of endless chains, said chains being spaced apart and each chain having a .lll

series of? laterally evtendingw paddles, the paddles on one ehi. n beine' aligned opposite the paddles on tlie er :fliain d paddles hai/'ing their treo ends in el' proximity, means lfor driving said chains, a series oli removable overlapping plates lforining 'the bottom oit the iorizontal eenveyor, and an open llesible trainevforli on which said bottoin plates are removably nionnted 5. In a horiaontal conveyor.a the eoinbination oit a pair oit endless eliains said chains being` spaced apart, and eaeli chain having; a series oit laterally erteinlingg paddles, the paddles on one eliain beine; aligned opposite the paddles on tbe other eliaiin ineans lior drivingu aid chains.) a series of overlaid ping plates forming the bottoni ot the heli frontal eoi'ivevor, ineans for supporting said plates in normal position, ineans lfor seenring said plates in their overlappinLe, relation, and means for readily withdraivi any oil said. plates to dninp the inatorial oai` ried thereon.

6. ln a lieirilile endless eonvevor, as a new article oit manufacture, a bottoni plate lier the endless convey/or7 consistiinjil ot i 'llat plate of general rectangular shane Witli an extended end, and brasile to the Linder side of the plate near its ont i, edge and handles having; a screw threaded portion mounted on said bracket and adapt ed to secure the plates in po on on the 'framework element, said plate nein oit saltieient Width so 'that it will overlap the cor responding oppositely positioned plate when nlonnted in place on the conveyor.

7. In a flexible conveyor tor eonve'vinggg nia terial iroin an elevator to a series ot ears in a inine an endless conveyor eo' Lgrin'y a pair of endless Chains eaeh havn@ a se el laterallgtr projecting; paddles, the i' dles on one chain being1 disposed. opp the paddles on the other eliain wlif ivorlring position, poivrer nieans :l'or

ohrononsly driving' the ailioresaid pair oi endless chains, and means dependii vrroin the rooit oit the gallery oli the inn if supporting said endless conveyor on the tops ot earsu 8. ln combination with the apparatus described in claim power contr lled ineans l'or raising and lowering); the tleiiiliile ennveyor.

9. In combination with the apparatus described in elaiin il ineaifI snap aded li f the root of the lgallery i.V he inn ing and lowering; the Horrible com u l0. ln aeoal elevating' apparatlr the nonibination ot an Iinelined bottoni ineinber, a pair of endless Chains nionnted on and e1;- tending the length of said bottoni rnenfiben said chains having a series olE seated paddles, the paddles beine; oli saillieienlV l@ and with. paddles ot eaeli eliain position in alignment to aet substantially a nnit in sweepinn:n the ooal into aniil np the ratingv apparatus, a shovel at the lower end oil? the elovaliing;1 apparatus arranged to provide a iirni siiiiiport '.lor the paddles and to permit oil readiljv moving1 lthe device into operative position relative to the eoabineans tor siinnltaneonslgT operating the two endless eliainsT and nieans tor supporting the elevatineapparatus, said ineans beingr snit-` ably a .eed to rais and lower the loiver end oi the elevatingY apparatus to suitably position it lor operation or lor transportai tioin and power operated ineans tor adjust ini;- the aforesaid ineans supporting the ele vatinnapp aratns ln a eoal elevator, the combination ol ali inclined bottoni nienibera a pair oi endl-ss chains inonnted on and extending; the

lei. Vth oi said bottoni ine/naher, said chains iaiinfr a et lilie spaced paddles, the paddle one ehain beine` disposed in aetiiatinnj the threaded shalt/3sn niannallv oontrolled and power operated ineens olf raisinnj and 'lower-ingr and swinging; the lower end oli 'the eleva vor in an are oit predetermined sise to entend the range oit operation the inacliine on both sides ot the ear traeln the aforesaid nieansinelndingr a seeA tional arcuate raelr7 the sections ot which niav he detaelied tor purposes of transportatioin eg/ear on said raoln a shalt ttor the gearT elnteli ineans if r oo llinnj the direetion oit rotation op!" lille n in and snit able power ineens 'tor rotatingl the near shaft in the required direction "for fnvinningij the elevators lower end 'lo the desired porn tion oft the are Within which it inav be operated.

i2. ln combination with the elevator deseribed in olefin llr :i hin'liizontal eoavoyor driven 'frein a coininon sonree ot power to Convey niali-n'ial 'troni the npier end oit the elevator to ars bevond, and n'ieans 'tor dnn'ipinp; the material troni said horizontal conveyor into the ears.

lili .lin bor'aontal flexible Conv eonveyii t; n'iaterial il'roin an, elei1 or to a .i oars :in a inine, en endless eonvevor ineans tor synelirononslj,7 driving the alforesaid pair of endless chains, means suspended from the roof of the gallery of the mine for raising and lowering the flexible conveyor, and means for flexibly supporting said endless conveyor on the tops of the cars, said means bein attached to the cars.

14. In aghorizontal conveyor, means for supporting the aforesaid conveyor on the tops of a series of cars, a plurality of endless chains, each of the chains having spaced paddles oppositely arranged in conveying the material, said chains being driven in opposite directions, means for driving the aforesaid chains from a point some distance from the ends of the chains, said means including a series of gears and gear wheels meshing with each other and with the sprockets of the chains, power means for driving the aforesaid gears from the predeterrnined power point, bottom plates under the chains and affording a support for the material conveyed, and open frame-work supporting the said bottom plates in a firm but removable position.

15. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 1st, manually operated means for laterally moving opposite bottom plates of the horizontal conveyor in opposite directions to dump the material therefrom.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, an elevator consisting of a plurality of endless chains each carrying spaced paddles, the free ends of the paddles being positioned in close proximity, so that opposite paddles will coact in conveying the material, a shovel memberl attached to the lower end of the elevator, hood-like boots engaging over the lower ends of the elevator, said boots having flaring flanges shaped to guide any falling coal into the shovel member in position to be swept up by the paddles of the elevator, substantially as described.

17. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 3, manually operable means for lateral adjustment of each set of adjacent plates relative to each other and independently of the set next adjacent thereto, for dumping the contents of any particular plates of the conveyor.

18. In combination with the apparatus described in claim 3, means suspended from the roof of the gallery of a mine for raising and lowering the horizontal conveyor to and from the tops of series of coal cars in the gallery.

19. In combination with the apparatus de` scribed in claim 3, power operated means for conveying coal along the horizontal conveyor, and means for flexibly guiding said coal conveying means to permit of sinuous movement thereof.

20. In a coal conveying apparatus, a flexible conveyor comprising a series of flexible plates arranged in sets, the plates of one set having their ends overlapping the ends of the set beyond, means for moving any given set of plates laterally to dump the contents thereof at will, coal conveying apparatus arranged to sweep material longitudinally of the plates, means for permitting said ronveyinr apparatus to swing pivotally to either side, ongitudinal guide means for said apparatus on the plates, whereby to permit sinuous mo vement of both the series of plates J' and the coal conveying apparatus.

21. In combination with the apparatus de scribed in claim 20, vertically arranged overlapping plates attached to the coal conveying apparatus to protect the mechanism coal dust, substantially as shown.

22. In a flexible coal conveying apparatus, a flexible conveyor comprising a series of sets of overlapping plates, threaded rings depending from the respective plates, threaded rods operatively en Aaging the rings, said rods being opposite y threaded under the respective plates to permit of simultaneous movement of the plates away from each other to dump the contents thereof, longitudinal guiding means mounted on the plates, coal conveying mechanism slidably mounted on the lates and including a guide element slidab e in the longitudinal guiding means and capable of swinging movement to either side, for the purposes described.

23. In a flexible coal conveying apparatus, a flexible conveyor comprising a series of sets of overlapping horizontal plates, means for independent ateral movement of any gilven set of plates to dump the contents of t at set, a flexible conveying mechanism for conveying coal over said plates, said mechanism comprising flexible chain means, spaced paddles mounted on said flexible chain means, flexible housing means encasing said chains. and flexible means for guiding the chain housing means longitudinally of the horizontal plates,

24. In a flexible coal conveying apparatus, a plurality of' chain'operated flexible conveyors having oppositely positioned spaced paddles for conveying the coal, a series of flexible horizontal plates over which said conveying means operate, and flexible housing means encasing said chains, said housing means comprising a series of housing plates above and below the chain, each plate having broadly V-shaped ends, the ends of one plate being operatively attached to the ends of the ncxt adjacent plate.

In combination with the apparatus described in claim 14, means operatively connected with the bottom housing plate for flexibly guiding the conveying mechanism over the horizontal plates.

26A In combination with the apparatus described in claim 14, means operatively connected with the bottom housing plate for He-Xibly guidi; nhe convey/mg nileelmnsn'l even the he entail ple-tee.) mu, nnnnelly operated meme lmf lizwel'ely n'levng any denn-ed set nf ncwsceninl ip nkes i1@ Munn the contents; thereof,

527. En n com, lmndhn eppzumis, the eemhna'ten ef "lexble eenveynn' eppmens, en@ e. 'flemme wusng enemis'n said Hexle eem'eyng eppzsfrznius, the hnnsnngg and 'the conveying nppzu beth hengf 'za'mnle n? V.Mineral n'u'wenent in either flzl'eeilen 28. In e wml handling appui: me the conn-- bnalton ef e plurality e? 'flexible wnveyoln end flexible housing ineens enezsngg' 'the :imeheffl te "me prlejes: :md extending longitm'lnzllly heen, elnnpotflg nleunn fel the yLzNu-fef` nel@ snmmlflllg Ineens lnehu'nniy e enafn5-g'zabe lena-dy nmnn'ed guide een'lent Slidnbly engen i in H1@ channel non neem` bel' 13e guide the housing plates and :ldaped to pel'nat thenl to Fenedex und. Mpx/'avance es the curvature of the comme e" travel of the eenveym' nmjf lequiirfe. 

